Latest news with #MadelineZavodny
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
America's colleges face a looming crisis: The vital role of international students
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. American higher education is heading for a significant challenge, facing a 'demographic cliff' that could drastically shrink student populations, warns a new policy brief from the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). Without the crucial contributions of immigrants and their children, as well as international students, both undergraduate and graduate student numbers could plummet in the coming years, potentially leading to widespread college closures and fewer opportunities for all students. The report, authored by Madeline Zavodny, a Research Fellow at NFAP and Professor of Economics, highlights that the number of US-born traditional college-age young adults is expected to drop sharply starting in 2025 due to declining birth rates after 2007. Projections show a potential 15% fall in this demographic between 2025 and 2029 alone. A shrinking student body? The NFAP analysis projects that by 2037, without immigrant-origin students, the undergraduate population in the US could be nearly 5 million smaller than in 2022, shrinking to about two-thirds of its current size. Graduate student numbers could face an even steeper decline, becoming at least 1.1 million smaller, or only about 60% of their current size. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Such dramatic drops would be 'catastrophic' for many institutions, especially those in regions already experiencing population declines. "Losing up to one-third of undergraduate enrolment and almost two-fifths of graduate enrolment would be catastrophic for many colleges and universities," states the analysis. This could result in fewer educational opportunities for US students, a reduction in higher education-related jobs, and a smaller pool of college-educated workers in the nation. International students: A financial lifeline and innovation driver International students play a vital role, not just in filling seats but also in providing substantial financial support to universities. In 2023-24 alone, international students contributed almost $44 billion to the US economy and supported over 378,000 jobs. Many public universities, facing cuts in state funding, have increasingly relied on international students' higher out-of-state tuition fees to maintain their programs and even reduce tuition for in-state students. The report also dispels the myth that international students 'crowd out' American students. In fact, research suggests the opposite: higher tuition paid by international students allows public universities to expand their offerings, potentially increasing the number of US students they can enrol. For example, for every additional international undergraduate student at a public university, in-state freshman enrollment increases by two, on average. Furthermore, international students are crucial for innovation and entrepreneurship. Master's programs with more foreign students tend to lead to more businesses being created by graduates. They also boost US innovation through patents and publications, especially in STEM fields. Immigrants who attended a U.S. college or university account for 75% of those who founded US companies receiving venture capital funding. Changing demographics and future outlook The share of immigrant-origin students (first and second-generation immigrants) in US higher education has been steadily rising. In 2022, first-generation immigrants made up 11% of undergraduate students, and second-generation immigrants accounted for 24%. This growth in immigrant-origin students has been critical in offsetting declines in the number of third-plus generation US-born students. While international student enrolment rebounded after a dip during the first Trump administration and the pandemic, it remains slightly below its 2016-17 peak. The report warns that another reduction in international students could severely impact many US higher education institutions, jeopardising academic programs and employment in local economies. With some other English-speaking countries now looking to reduce their international student numbers, the US has a "strategic opening" to attract more. This, combined with post-graduation work opportunities like Optional Practical Training (OPT), could ensure a stronger US-educated workforce, particularly in critical STEM fields that drive economic growth and innovation. The message is clear: the future health and vitality of American higher education, and by extension, the U.S. economy and workforce, are increasingly tied to the continued presence and contributions of immigrants and international students, concludes the NFAP analysis.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Forecasted foreign student drop catastrophic for US colleges: Study
Enrollment numbers at American colleges and universities will drop by 5 million by 2037 if international and immigrant students are not factored into the equation, which will dramatically affect the bottom line of institutions of higher education, a new study suggests. The study, released by the National Foundation for American Policy, determined that the number of undergraduates would be about two-thirds of its current size if its calculations involving international students are correct. Meanwhile, the number of graduate students would also plummet by 1.1 million students, which, coupled with undergraduate decreases, would be 'catastrophic' for many universities, an economist who researched the study determined. Madeline Zavodny, a professor of economics at the University of North Florida, conducted the study this year before the Trump administration began targeting U.S. universities for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and other practices that do not align with its mission. The administration has announced cuts of federal grant funding from institutions like Harvard and Columbia. On Thursday, President Trump blocked Harvard's ability to enroll international students for alleged violent and antisemitic practices. Students, faculty and members of the Harvard University community rally, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo) Meanwhile, international students at several universities have had their student visas revoked and have been taken into custody by federal immigration agents for a variety of allegations and earmarked for deportation. Although universities saw a slight drop in their international and immigrant student population during Trump's first term in the White House, those declines represent a 'drop in the bucket' compared to what is expected to come, Zavodny told NewsNation. 'It's a very abrupt, shocking change,' she said. Data released by Best Colleges indicated that during the 2024-25 academic year, 19.1 million students were enrolled in U.S. colleges, including 16 million undergraduates. However, who makes up those numbers has shifted due to the ongoing decline in the U.S. birth rate and the decision by more American students not to attend college. Based on those trends, U.S.-born students between 18 and 22 attending American colleges could fall by as much as 15 percent between now and 2029, the study shows. The bigger and unexpected surprise in declining college enrollments does not involve Americans. The Institute of International Education reports that 880,000 international students were enrolled at American colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year. That total represents an increase of 230,000 students (36 percent) from 2010-11. Meanwhile, second-generation immigrants, those students who were born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, rose from 15 percent to 24 percent over the same period. Students march at Arizona State University in protest of ASU's chapter of College Republicans United-led event encouraging students to report 'their criminal classmates to ICE for deportations', Jan. 31, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) In 2023, the largest percentage of international students came from India, which accounts for 30 percent of international students at American universities. Another 25 percent of international students come from China, far outpacing international students from Latin American, Middle Eastern or European countries. Although the COVID-19 pandemic kept international students from coming to the U.S., numbers have recovered over the past few years, again fueling student enrollment numbers. Because international and immigrant students tend to pay full tuition, fees and room and board, the dependence on those students not only to fill seats in classrooms but to allow universities to meet their bottom line financially has remained necessary, Zavodny said. The Association of International Educators reported that international students studying at U.S. schools contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-24 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow (R), with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, administers the Oath of Allegiance to twelve candidates for US citizenship during a naturalization ceremony hosted by the USCIS at the State Department in 2020. (Photo by MANUEL BALCE CENETA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Yet given the fire that both universities and international students have come under since Trump took office, Zavodny predicts that both enrollment and the financial outlook of U.S. colleges could take significant hits. On Wednesday, Joseph Edlow, the Trump administration's pick to lead the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, testified before a congressional committee that he favors removing Optional Practical Training programs that assist international students in obtaining work authorizations once they finish their education. Current OPT programs provide students with hope for a future of successful careers and residency in the U.S., Zavodny said, adding to the allure of coming to the U.S. on a student visa to study. Should these programs cease to exist, however, Zavodny believes the impact on schools' ability to thrive financially, or in the cases of smaller colleges, to survive, will almost certainly change. In addition, Trump's pledge to end birthright citizenship and to completely close the U.S. southern border could also factor into expected enrollment drops at colleges and universities across the board as international students reconsider their educational future. 'It must be terrifying to think that you could spend this money (to attend college in the U.S.) and that you could be deported without your degree, you could be put in jail for a long time,' Zavodny said. In addition to the expected base enrollment decreases, the study also found that if international students were no longer coming to the U.S., total undergraduate student enrollment would fall by 2 percent over the next 12 years. Under the same scenario, the graduate-level student population would drop 11 percent. Those figures will increase by another 1 or 2 percent if the immigrant inflow were to stop as Trump continues to completely seal the U.S. southern border. Additionally, if immigrants currently living in the U.S left the country, the undergraduate student population would fall by another 6.6%, and the graduate-level student population could fall by 12 percent, the study found. If U.S.-born students who are the children of immigrants elected not to attend an American institution, undergraduate student levels would see a 23 percent drop and graduate-level student populations would fall by 16 percent by 2037. With the decline in international students expected to last for more than a decade and beyond when Trump leaves office, Zavodny said colleges and universities may need to adjust their enrollment practices and admit students they may not have even a decade ago. If they do not, based on current trends and the time it may take for international student populations to rebound, the long-term impact for these institutions could be bleak, Zavodny said. 'It's going to be big and it's going to be adverse for a whole lot of schools,' she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Forecasted foreign student drop catastrophic for US colleges: Study
Enrollment numbers at American colleges and universities will drop by 5 million by 2037 if international and immigrant students are not factored into the equation, which will dramatically affect the bottom line of institutions of higher education, a new study suggests. The study, released by the National Foundation for American Policy, determined that the number of undergraduates would be about two-thirds of its current size if its calculations involving international students are correct. Meanwhile, the number of graduate students would also plummet by 1.1 million students, which, coupled with undergraduate decreases, would be 'catastrophic' for many universities, an economist who researched the study determined. Madeline Zavodny, a professor of economics at the University of North Florida, conducted the study this year before the Trump administration began targeting U.S. universities for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and other practices that do not align with its mission. The administration has announced cuts of federal grant funding from institutions like Harvard and Columbia. On Thursday, President Trump blocked Harvard's ability to enroll international students for alleged violent and antisemitic practices. Students, faculty and members of the Harvard University community rally, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo) Meanwhile, international students at several universities have had their student visas revoked and have been taken into custody by federal immigration agents for a variety of allegations and earmarked for deportation. Although universities saw a slight drop in their international and immigrant student population during Trump's first term in the White House, those declines represent a 'drop in the bucket' compared to what is expected to come, Zavodny told NewsNation. 'It's a very abrupt, shocking change,' she said. Data released by Best Colleges indicated that during the 2024-25 academic year, 19.1 million students were enrolled in U.S. colleges, including 16 million undergraduates. However, who makes up those numbers has shifted due to the ongoing decline in the U.S. birth rate and the decision by more American students not to attend college. Based on those trends, U.S.-born students between 18 and 22 attending American colleges could fall by as much as 15 percent between now and 2029, the study shows. The bigger and unexpected surprise in declining college enrollments does not involve Americans. The Institute of International Education reports that 880,000 international students were enrolled at American colleges and universities during the 2023-24 academic year. That total represents an increase of 230,000 students (36 percent) from 2010-11. Meanwhile, second-generation immigrants, those students who were born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, rose from 15 percent to 24 percent over the same period. Students march at Arizona State University in protest of ASU's chapter of College Republicans United-led event encouraging students to report 'their criminal classmates to ICE for deportations', Jan. 31, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) In 2023, the largest percentage of international students came from India, which accounts for 30 percent of international students at American universities. Another 25 percent of international students come from China, far outpacing international students from Latin American, Middle Eastern or European countries. Although the COVID-19 pandemic kept international students from coming to the U.S., numbers have recovered over the past few years, again fueling student enrollment numbers. Because international and immigrant students tend to pay full tuition, fees and room and board, the dependence on those students not only to fill seats in classrooms but to allow universities to meet their bottom line financially has remained necessary, Zavodny said. The Association of International Educators reported that international students studying at U.S. schools contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-24 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow (R), with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, administers the Oath of Allegiance to twelve candidates for US citizenship during a naturalization ceremony hosted by the USCIS at the State Department in 2020. (Photo by MANUEL BALCE CENETA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Yet given the fire that both universities and international students have come under since Trump took office, Zavodny predicts that both enrollment and the financial outlook of U.S. colleges could take significant hits. On Wednesday, Joseph Edlow, the Trump administration's pick to lead the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, testified before a congressional committee that he favors removing Optional Practical Training programs that assist international students in obtaining work authorizations once they finish their education. Current OPT programs provide students with hope for a future of successful careers and residency in the U.S., Zavodny said, adding to the allure of coming to the U.S. on a student visa to study. Should these programs cease to exist, however, Zavodny believes the impact on schools' ability to thrive financially, or in the cases of smaller colleges, to survive, will almost certainly change. In addition, Trump's pledge to end birthright citizenship and to completely close the U.S. southern border could also factor into expected enrollment drops at colleges and universities across the board as international students reconsider their educational future. 'It must be terrifying to think that you could spend this money (to attend college in the U.S.) and that you could be deported without your degree, you could be put in jail for a long time,' Zavodny said. In addition to the expected base enrollment decreases, the study also found that if international students were no longer coming to the U.S., total undergraduate student enrollment would fall by 2 percent over the next 12 years. Under the same scenario, the graduate-level student population would drop 11 percent. Those figures will increase by another 1 or 2 percent if the immigrant inflow were to stop as Trump continues to completely seal the U.S. southern border. Additionally, if immigrants currently living in the U.S left the country, the undergraduate student population would fall by another 6.6%, and the graduate-level student population could fall by 12 percent, the study found. If U.S.-born students who are the children of immigrants elected not to attend an American institution, undergraduate student levels would see a 23 percent drop and graduate-level student populations would fall by 16 percent by 2037. With the decline in international students expected to last for more than a decade and beyond when Trump leaves office, Zavodny said colleges and universities may need to adjust their enrollment practices and admit students they may not have even a decade ago. If they do not, based on current trends and the time it may take for international student populations to rebound, the long-term impact for these institutions could be bleak, Zavodny said. 'It's going to be big and it's going to be adverse for a whole lot of schools,' she added.
